Our first interview will be with Bryan and Amanda Popa. Before I give you the interview, though, let me say that I love them both. I am so blessed to be called their pastor. It is a privilege that I don't take lightly. So, what am I waiting for? You need to get to know them.
1. How long have you been married?
4 years on July 8
2. Tell us something that everyone should know about your spouse.
Bryan: Amanda has an undiagnosed case of OCD. She hates clutter, is a Nazi about cleaning, wants shoes off in the house, needs to see vacuum lines in the carpet, likes having a blanket cover her toes, etc., etc. She is ranked nationally when it comes to being organized – I believe she’s #6 in the state of Ohio. But I can’t complain, she keeps me in line, our calendar straight, and our house in order – it’s actually a blessing. She is someone that has compassion for serving others before herself. Amanda is an amazing spouse, best friend and will be a fantastic mother!
Amanda: Bryan has a borderline unhealthy love for our pug dog Crosby. He looks forward to getting down and wrestling around with him on the ground every night after work - it's very funny to watch. He also enjoys picking Crosby up upside down by his legs and pretending like he's a "pig". They snort back and forth at each other (don't worry, this is totally normal). On a more serious note though, after seeing how much he loves Crosby, he says that he's excited to see how much more he will love our son than he loves our dog!
3. How long have you been attending Cornerstone?
We started coming the summer of 2006. We found out about Cornerstone because Kate and Amanda taught at the same school together. We wanted to start coming earlier but had an obligation to stay at the church that was linked with the school.
4. How have you been involved at Cornerstone?
Amanda: I think that Bryan leading the Monday night Life Group has been the most rewarding "service" that we have gotten to do at Cornerstone so far, we also participate in the nursery set up every other week and Amanda serves in the nursery as well.
Bryan: I’m super excited about rallying men together in community with purpose of living for Christ at our places of work and more importantly leading our families.
5. What's it like for you to be a part of the Cornerstone Community?
AWESOME! We feel like God allows us to get a glimpse of what He truly desires for His Body at Cornerstone. It's more than we could have asked for in a church before we found it. We enjoy being real with people and having true community that is deep, raw, difficult, challenging and Spirit-filled.
6. What is a favorite verse and why?
Bryan: Colossians 1:16-17 "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." I love it because it’s all about Jesus; He created everything, he’s before all things and he himself holds everything together. EVERYTHING!
Amanda: A favorite passage of Scripture for me usually depends on what I am studying, because the whole Bible is full of my favorites! Currently I'm studying Ephesians with Megan Kirkwood who is discipling me and I'm learning SO MUCH about how the Church Body is designed to be the fullness of Christ. I love these verses because we are told that it is through Christ that we have access to the Father and because of this, being built on Christ we are to be fitted together in unity so that we can be a holy dwelling place for God - how sweet is that?! The whole book of Ephesians is full of wonderful verses about how we are to live in a manner worthy of our calling, preserving the unity and bond of peace with the Body and I am so challenged by how we are to do this through the Spirit only, not in our own strength.
"For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." Ephesians 2:18-22
7. How can we pray for you?
We would love prayer for direction in our lives - as God's children, what does he have for us while we are living in Columbus? How can we be stretched more and live outside of the norm? We would also love prayer for wisdom and selflessness in parenting and for our marriage as we add a little one this summer.
1 comment:
You have been such a blessing to us at Cornerstone--we are enjoying getting to know you! We appreciate your love for the Lord and for His word . . . and the great sense of humor!
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